A SeaTac man is facing felony kidnapping and unlawful imprisonment charges after prosecutors say he held his domestic partner and her two young children against their will for three days, driving them through Kittitas and King counties until Washington State Patrol troopers deployed stop sticks to stop his car on Interstate 90 near Issaquah.
King County prosecutors formally charged 28-year-old Carlos Alberto Gallegos Villagomez on Sept. 2 in King County Superior Court with two counts of second-degree kidnapping and one count of unlawful imprisonment domestic violence, according to SeaTac Blog. Per the charges detailed by The Seattle Times, Gallegos Villagomez held the woman and her children, ages 5 and 6, against their wills starting Aug. 27, driving them around Kittitas and King counties for three days.
A Tow Truck Phone Becomes a Lifeline
The ordeal ended on Aug. 30 on eastbound I-90 near milepost 18.8 at East Sunset Way in Issaquah, according to SeaTac Blog's account of the probable cause statement prepared by Washington State Patrol Detective Jacob Lilley. The woman called for a tow truck after the vehicle reportedly ran out of gas, then used the tow operator's phone to call 911, per the charges cited by The Seattle Times.
Once Gallegos Villagomez realized what was happening, charges say he sped off eastbound with the two children still in the back seat. Washington State Patrol troopers located the vehicle and deployed stop sticks to prevent him from driving further, per the charging documents. State law under RCW 10.116 and State Patrol operational guidelines authorize trained officers to deploy the tire-deflation devices to disable fleeing vehicles, a maneuver that typically requires supervisory approval and a risk assessment, according to the Washington State Legislature.
Washington State Patrol said in the charges that officers “thankfully were able to recover the kidnapped children who were crying and upset,” per The Seattle Times. Gallegos Villagomez tested positive for illegal drugs, prosecutors said.
Assault Allegations and a History of Non-Compliance
Charges allege Gallegos Villagomez assaulted the woman when she tried to take the car keys, and that he refused to let her and the children leave the vehicle during the three-day ordeal. Prosecutors say he has prior domestic violence convictions and a history of violence, and that he failed to comply with court orders tied to previous drunken-driving convictions.
Court records reviewed by SeaTac Blog show Gallegos Villagomez had an active arrest warrant out of Kent Municipal Court for driving under the influence and was actively serving probation for a 2024 DUI conviction in Kent. The Seattle Times reported that prosecutors also cited active warrants from Edmonds and Kent, and that he failed to report for probation. While Gallegos Villagomez shares a registered residential address with the victim and her children in SeaTac, arrest documents in the court file list his last known address in neighboring Tukwila, per SeaTac Blog's reporting.
Statutory Exposure and Bail
Second-degree kidnapping is classified as a Class B felony under RCW 9A.40.030, punishable by up to 10 years in state prison and a maximum fine of $20,000, according to the Law Offices of Steve Karimi. Unlawful imprisonment under RCW 9A.40.040 is a Class C felony carrying a potential sentence of up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000, per Black & Askerov.
Because the charges were committed against an intimate partner, they carry a domestic violence designation under RCW 10.99.020, which triggers mandatory protective orders and firearm restrictions, the Law Offices of Steve Karimi notes. Gallegos Villagomez is currently held on $200,000 bail. In King County Superior Court, felony domestic violence suspects are typically held without bail until an initial appearance within 24 to 48 hours, where judges review criminal history before setting bail and routinely issue no-contact orders, according to Milios Defense.
Part of a Larger Pattern in King County
The case adds to what county data shows is a persistent problem. In 2024, gender-based violence — including domestic violence, sexual assault, and commercial sexual exploitation — was the most common category of violent crime prosecuted by the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, totaling 1,442 adult felony cases, according to the Federal Way Mirror. That reporting found women between ages 25 and 35 represented the largest victim demographic in the county's data.
Washington State Patrol continues to investigate the incident. The case against Gallegos Villagomez, first detailed in reporting from The Seattle Times' Mike Carter, remains pending in King County Superior Court.
